Thursday, 12 January 2017

GOAT YOGA

It has been a painfully long
time since I have blogged, and for that, my sincere apologies. But I aim to be
more ‘delighted and disturbed’ this year… wait, I stand corrected; I don’t
think it’s possible to be more ‘disturbed’ than I was in 2016, nor is it
medically wise. So let’s kick off 2017 with something delightful, shall we.

Goat Yoga.

Yes, you heard me. Bet you
never thought you’d hear those two words together in a sentence. Leave it to the good
ol’ Pacific Northwest of the United States to introduce this new trend (although I'm surprised Californians didn't think of this first). Apparently yoga ala goat has become so popular that there is a 1200 person strong waiting list.

Now, I admittedly burst out
laughing when I first read the article and saw the photos. Maybe it's my OCD or fear of goat shit on my back, but having a goat crawl on me wasn't on my list of wants. Then again, deep inside this liberal minded
Californian is indeed a cynic battling with what the world serves up, and looking at
photos of people in downward dog position with goats on their backs, well, it
was hard to keep a straight face. But, I was certainly open to hearing the positives of letting farmyard animals help me in my triangle pose.

Lainey Morse of Albany, Oregon
stumbled across the concept kind of by accident. She owns a farm, something
she had aspired to do for many years, and her aim was to have a gaggle of goats
to keep her company. (I guess she found having cats was a bit passé). When a visitor
to her farm suggested the scenic backdrop would be a great place to do yoga (honestly,
I’ve done yoga for years, but I can’t say I’ve ever thought, farm, manure
piles, and flies and yoga made a good match, but hey,
perhaps I’ not as open-minded as I thought) Lainey jumped at the chance. But on
one condition, her goats would have free rein of the place and could join in on
the fun.

And goat yoga was born!

The
farm, appropriately called ‘No Regrets’ hosts these classes to young and old,
and anyone seeking a little cuddle from a goat. She calls it a ‘happy
distraction’ and says that yoga and nature are a wonderful combination. Which I
couldn’t agree more...(it's just the goat thing I'm still struggling with). “It may sound silly, says Lainey,
but goat yoga is really helping people.” Especially, according to Lainey, those
with illnesses, anxiety and depression. She learned from personal experience
when recovering from her own illness, that time spent with goats, made things a
whole lot easier. “It’s hard to be sad and depressed when there is a baby goat
jumping on you.”

Well, clearly there is the
answer I’ve been missing in 2016. Honey, next time Trump is on TV, fetch me my
goat damn it. I need a cuddle!!